Splinter Cell: Conviction is a return to form for the series after the slight hiccup that was Double Agent, and anyone that's put off trying out the game at this point would do well to give the series another chance.

I mean, I’ve clearly fallen in love with it. How could I not, when it’s as fun as this? Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope doesn’t just prove that the first game was no fluke, it shows that it’s possible to take a crazy idea and turn it into one of the best games of the year.

Despite the fact that Z-Axis games are consistently entertaining, each of them has run into a similar problem of being released decidedly unpolished. Sadly, Aggressive Inline is no different.

Every aspect of Project Gotham Racing 4 is top notch, yet it feels just a little too much like the same racer we've been playing for years, even with all the changes. There's a lot more racing competition on the Xbox 360 these days and PGR4 still performs well enough to race to the top.

Metroid: Samus Returns is an easy recommendation and you can’t go wrong with this in your 3DS library. The team put a lot of work into polishing this remake and it shows. I can’t even tell who gets the better deal here between fans of the original or newcomers like me. All I can say is that this game makes me realize how much I miss a true Metroidvania game made by masters of the craft. If this is how Nintendo wants to pay homage to classic games, I say let’s go for more!

The good news (if that continued dedication to being insanely hard doesn't count as good news for you) is that OlliOlli2 is also just as addictive as its predecessor.

The story is exciting and fun, plus the characters are very memorable. Dragon Quest VIII is a must-have for JRPG fans and should earn a permanent place on your HOME screen.

I can easily say without a doubt that this is not only the best EA hockey game since "NHL 05," but quite possibly the best hockey game ever. Fans can be happy to know that the series they grew up loving has finally delivered in all department to create the most realistic and authentic hockey game on the market. Second place is the first loser, and that means you 2K Hockey.

Mechanically it could be a better game, sure, but it’s still definitely a game worth playing.

I don't feel like enough effort went into this to improve upon the flaws of the original, and something needs to be done with career mode to make it a little more exciting and enticing in my opinion.

While I'd be hesitant to recommend it to hardcore FPS players, gamers looking for an easy going way to unwind should have quite a bit of fun with PvZ on PSN.

Abe also manages to remain challenging while never becoming irritating. Words cannot express how important this is. [Overall Score = 97]

Now where NBA Live 2004 excels is in the gameplay department. NBA Live successfully gives you almost total control of the game of basketball, crossovers, pivot moves, shot adjustments, and fade-aways, are all aspects of the game that EA has given you control of.

Everything from the visuals, audio, and presentation have been bumped up a notch to a level that would make any fan who has turned their heads for the last 3 years take notice.

The note charts, which everyone was the most worried about with a new developer, were surprisingly well done and most importantly fun to play.

The gameplay has never been better and it carries over all the favorite modes from last year. I didn’t expect to be so glowing on this year’s release because on the surface this looked like NHL 19 the sequel, but I can happily report I was wrong and NHL 20 blasts a goal from the blue line.

The fighting is simple enough for anyone to pick up and check out, whether they've played a Street Fighter game in the past decade, or are new to fighters in general. At the same time, there's enough options here to keep high level players interested and entertained, and a diverse enough roster of characters to keep the action from being mundane and boring. Tie that to a multiplayer system that works really well, with the occasional lag issues of course, and you've got what amounts to the best fighter on the Wii at this moment in time.

If I had to hold one thing against Daxter (and Ready at Dawn) it’s that they raised the bar so high that it’s probably going to be a while before there is another PSP title that reaches this level of quality.

I found it to be a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. Because of this, you’re left having your attention continually and equally divided, forcing you to pour in tons of hours just to start feeling invested in the world.

In other words, it’s hard to say that Meetup in Bellabel Park makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder any better than it already was. To be sure, “what it already was” is a must-play game, so if you missed out on it a few years ago, now is definitely the time to play it again – but unless you really like moderately enjoyable minigames, you can stick with the base game and get the most important experience.

What more can I say that hasn't been said already. MLB 08: The Show raises the bar once again and delivers the most complete baseball experience money can buy.

The game looks fantastic and is the ideal leap above its predecessor you would want in a sequel. Fourteen unique characters move and fight with such splendid animation, that you would be awestruck if you had the time to really see it between spawning.

As criticisms go, that’s hardly a terrible one: saying that a game gives you freedom to play it as you want to is probably something more games should aspire to. That The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom gives you all that freedom without ever feeling unfocused or overwhelming is evidence that it lives up to its iconic lineage.

The game looks the part, sounds the part, and certainly plays the part. Topped off with a wealth of options that will keep you playing for hours on end, and an addictive online mode, Fight Night is just what the game's subtitle suggest...it's a Champion.

The Outer Worlds is an absolute steal if you’re opting to go the Xbox Game Pass route, but even at $60, it’s well worth your time. It’s exciting to see a viable alternative to the Fallout series, which is exactly what Obsidian has created here.

I really don’t have complaints about Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. It’s exactly what it claims to be: a new, recut version of Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced visuals and smooth performance. It takes advantage of everything very well, and being able to play it on the go is a massive bonus. For existing fans that picked up a Switch 2, it more than earns itself another playthrough. For those of you that are new to Yakuza and may have just started with Kiwami on the original Switch’s release, this is a prequel you don’t wanna miss out on. It’s the biggest and best version of Yakuza 0, and I’d argue an absolute necessity for Switch 2. You simply won’t find a better experience than the Director’s Cut.

It's so damn near identical to the home console versions that it's almost worth checking out just to see how close Capcom managed to get. It also helps that it's immensely playable, with a working online mode that can quickly match you up with other players worldwide, with little to no lag to boot.

Ok, when I said solid gameplay, I meant, "Oh my god, the combat is fun!"...I don't know if I can ever go back to single pulling, auto attack type battles. You don't even have to be into MMOs to enjoy this game.